IFA: Low-income farmers the worst hit unless AEOS scheme is secured

Low-income farmers will be worst hit unless a meaningful Agri-environmental Options Scheme (AEOS) scheme is secured in 2012, the IFA has warned.

IFA’s Connacht vice-president Padraic Divilly is seeking a meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny to explain the particular case of farm families in the west of Ireland, who are heavily dependent on AEOS, an eco-agri grant introduced to replace the REPS scheme.

Mr Divilly said: “The average AEOS payment is two-thirds of REPS3, but with reduced planning fees, the scheme still represents a boost to farm incomes in the west of Ireland, where incomes are traditionally low.”